Vehicle spring suspension



March 3, 1936. E. R. WOLF VEHICLE SPRING SUSPENSION Filed Jun e 16, 19 PlEj. l

INVENTOR. fan mm K. We?

ATTORNEY-5.

Patented Mar. 3, 1936 g UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE SPRING SUSPENSION Edward R. Wolf, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application June 16, 1934, Serial No. 730,892

24 Claims. (Cl. 267-17) This invention relates to a vehicle mounting standard links I4 which normally connect the and has particular reference to the frame and rear end l5 of the spring iii of the present invenaxle connections. tion, however, are pivotally connected as at H to The chief object of the invention is to increase an arm l8, which arm has one end pivotally conthe load capacity of a normal spring suspension nected to said spring I6 at l5 and its opposite end through the employment of a modifying connecis associated with a longitudinally extensible tion between the spring and the frame and with spring member formed sinuous in character as at the further and more important object of softenl9, the free end 20 of which is associated with a ing the action of the spring construction so that cushioning or absorbing device.

upon bounding the upward movement of the axle The spring I6 suitably supports the rear axle 2| and the spring is not translated to an equal dein any conventional manner. In this form of the gree to the frame, and that upon loading of the invention the front end of the rear spring It at vehicle the action of the additional load is not 22 is pivoted upon the frame l0 through the transmitted to the main spring but said addibracket 23. The latter constitutesaconventional tional load is taken up in the invention consticonnection. Suitably secured to frame ID as at tuting the improved connection of the spring to 24 there is a support member 25 and depending th fram therefrom and pivotally supported thereby as at One feature of the invention consists in pro- 26 is an eye-bolt 21 terminating in look nuts 28 viding a longitudinally extensible spring structure bearing on a cup 29 against which bears one end adapted for connecting the adjacent portions of of a spring 30. This spring is coiled and concen- 20 the frame and spring. tric with the eye-bolt and bears at its opposite In one form of the invention the device is apend upon a cup 3| oppositely directed relative to plied to the rear wheels and to the rear end of cup 29 and said cup is apertured to receive a rubthe frame and the spring. ber bushing 32 which extends therethrough and Another form of the invention is illustrated through the end 20 of the extensible arm con- 25 applied to the trailing end of the front spring. struction l 8| 9.

The third form of the invention is applied to As shown in Fig. he v c as n in p both ends of the rear wheel suspension. is in longitudinal alignment with the spring and Still a further form of the invention is applied frame. to both ends of the front wheel suspension, it In Figs. 3 and 4, the invention is shown ap- 30 being understood that it is possible to utilize the plied to the rear end of the front spring. In this invention as applied to the forward connections form of the invention, the frame Ill has a downof the springs and the frame without embodywardly directed portion 40 terminating in the ing the same invention in the rearward connecpivot 4| to which is tied the front end 42 of the tion of said springs. front spring 43 suitably supporting the front 5 The full nature of the invention will be underaxle or the like 44. In the conventional automostood from the accompanying drawing and the bile construction there is pivotally supported as following description and claims: at 45 a pair of links 46 that normally are con- In the drawing Fig. l is a side elevational view nected to the opposite end 41 of the front spring. of a rear spring and frame with the invention In the present invention, however, links 46 are 40 associated with the rear end thereof. Fig. 2 is a pivotally connected to a longitudinally extensible top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevational member 48 which has a sinuous extension portion view of the front end of the frame and the front 49 and an end 50 that is associated with a cush spring with the invention associated with the ioning structure substantially similar to that rear end of the front spring. Fig. 4 is a top plan shown in section in Fig. 1 except that instead of 5 view thereof. Fig. 5 is a more or less diagrambeing of 2. depending supported type, it is of the matic side elevation of the rear end of the frame elevated supported type. The support therefor and rear spring with the invention associated with consists of the member 5| secured to the frame both ends of said spring. Fig. 6 is a more or less as at 52 and a plate or arm portion 53 projecting diagrammatic side elevation of the front end of outwardly from the frame and to which is 5 the frame and front spring and with the invensecured the member 56 comparable to member tion associated with both ends of the front spring. 25 in Fig. l. The remainder of the structure is In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing,' Ill indicates substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1. the frame having the upkick II at its rear end The other end of the member 48 is connected as 55 and terminating in a pivotal support I3- The at 56 to the. rear end 41 of the front spring 43. 55

As will be observed from Fig. 4, the member 48 is offset intermediate its ends and this is because the front spring of an automobile normally is positioned relatively close to the frame so that the offset arrangement must be utilized in those vehicles wherein the spring is positioned normally relatively close to the frame and this offset, under similar circumstances, when necessary, must be utilized in the rear installation. If the front and rear of the frame both have upkicks providing sufficient distance between the axle and the frame, the offset structure is not, or need not be, employed unless preferred.

In Figs. 5 and 6 modified forms of the invention shown broadly in Figs. 1 and 3 are illustrated.

In these forms, the invention generically consists in substituting for said direct tie of the front ends of the front and rear springs to the frame a construction similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 3 for the rear end of the said springs. If it is desired only to utilize thisstructure and not the invention applied to the rear end of each or either of these springs, then the usual standard linkage connection previously mentioned is utilized whereby the rear ends of these springs are directly connected by said linkage to the frame.

In the event that both ends of each Spring or both ends of either spring are connected by the increasing load capacity and shook softening device, then a pulling connection must be utilized between the front ends of said springs and the frame and this is of such a character that it will not interfere with the softening or cushioning action of the device but providesthe necessary connection so that the pulling through the springs is effected.

In Fig. 5, numerals of the 100 series are employed similar to those employed in Fig. 1.. However, in this form of the invention, there is provided a linkage II Ia that pivotally connects the forward portion of the upkick I H, to. the arm I.I-8a intermediate its ends. One endof the arm at I22 is connected to, the front, end, of the spring I fi- The o her end; of; the arm through the sinu-. ous longitudinally extensible portion I. [9a is operatively associated through its end- H011 with a cushioning device similar to that. shown in Fig. 1 and bearing numerals of the I; series with the a subscript attached.

The additional connection between the. front end of the rear spring and the. frame includes a member I23 that is suitably connected to the connection I2 2 and which is slidably associated with a construction I00 mounted on the frame, 'I;'he purpose of construction is as follows:

In the up and downmovement of the spring relative to the frame or both, the member I=23 has; relative sliding movement. with respect to construction 1,00 and but little, if any, horizontal movement. In this manner the pulling power is transmitted between the frame and springs.

In Fig. 6; there is illustrated a, modification similar to that shown in Fig. but of the form of the. invention. shown inFig. 3.. In. this. form of the invention the rear end I41 of the front spring I4 3is connected to'the'frame Iglll by links I 4.6 pivoted at I45 upon, said frame and through the arm I48 which includes a similar laterally offset therein as shown inFig. 4, said arm being con,- nected; to the rear end; of; spring H3 at I56.v The sinuous, extensible portion I48 has its, end I59 associated with a construction shown clearly in Figs. 3 and; 4, the interior detailed construction f h ch.v is w very c ear y n Fig. 1-. The forwa d. e d. I42 Q this f ont; spring is. pivotally connected at I4I to an arm I48a similar to the arm I48 but reversely positioned. The sinuous end I49a thereof has its end I500, associated with a similar cushioning or absorbing construction. The links M611 are pivotally connected to member I48a intermediate its ends and are pivotally connected to the frame as at I45a.

By the statement that said links are pivotally connected to the frame, it will be observed, see Fig. 6, that the frame has had applied to it a bracket I05 and this is suitably secured to the end of the frame and, if necessary, the portion shown dotted at I06 of the frame may be cut off. The bracket I05 constituting a rigid extension of the frame includes a construction 200 similar to the construction I00 illustrated in Fig. 5 and slidably associated with said construction 200 is a member 223 which is suitably secured to the connectiin I4I between the front end of the front spring and the forward end of the member I48a.

The inv ntio s hereinbeiore suggested w re p t to Fi 5 and 6. m y have liminated therefrom the portion of the invention illustrated pecifi lly and. shown Figs. 1 and 3,. and. in that event, the links H4, and [4.6 respectively would be directly nnected to the points I115 and I55. respectively, which is the normal or standard conne ion.-

Th p ration of. the several forms of the invention shown herein, it is believed, will be readily understood fromv a description of the opera, tion of; the. invention. as shown in. Fig. 1 and to which reference will nowbe had.

It has been determined that the distance between the axisl'I and: the axis I5 is about one.-

ninth of the total length of the longitudinally extensible lever. The ratio, therefore, is eight to one. When the vehicle is loaded, see Fig. 1, the load is transmitted to the axle through the spring Hi by a portion of it. passing through the bracket 23 and another portion passing through the linkage 1.4 and the bracket. 25 and. thence through the longitudinal extensible lever to spring I6. It will, thus, be noted that. through the interpositioning of, this connection between the spring and the; frame, the load capacity may be materially increased over the entire structure since a part of. that load capacity is provided for in the spring 30.. However, it is to. be noted that spring. 30 is. not in reality primarily a load sustaining spring. This is. only a secondary and smaller function of that spring per se, but. its; load function or capacity, as it were, multiplied by a leverage ratio. of eight to one does impart to the entire structure an additional load capacity.

Upon the wheel hitting an obstruction, the axle 2.I moves up toward the frame and the. spring l6 tends to straighten. out. and also move up. Thereupon, the shock is: transmitted. upwardly through the bracket 2.3- and upwardly through the arm [8 and through link I4. However, when transmitted through this connection, the link has its. lower end moved forwardly or to the left in Fig. 1 as the spring moves up and this dopresses the. spring. arm I9, part of the resistance being interposed by reason of the sinuous arrangement and the remainder being taken care of by the coil spring 30:. It is to. be understood that the force: and effect of spring 30 and the sinuousportion I9 is. relatively weak compared to the strength. of spring I6 so that the initial movement of spring I6 due to shock imparted to the axle ZllJinitially, is. fully absorbed by the connection interposed between the spring and the frame and embodying the invention, thus per- 7,5

mitting the frame to retain its normal position relative to the roadway in its normal travel.

It has been demonstrated experimentally that a four-by-four placed behind the front wheel and contacted by the rear wheel aligned therewith was traversed by the rear wheel and there was little or no vertical deflection of the rear end of the frame. All of the action caused by the rear wheel engaging and riding over the four-by-four was absorbed by the connection embodying the invention. The action of this connection was initially this,--there was a compression of the spring 30 and there was a longitudinal extension and forward movement of the longitudinal extensible arm. The experiment in figures showed that the cup 3| moved downwardly one and onehalf inches, that the arm I8, at its end where it is joined to the extension l9, moved downwardly one and three-fourth inches, and the pivot point I! moved downwardly one-fourth of an inch. These dimensions are merely given as an illustration of the actual embodiment of the invention applied to a 1925 well known and expensive make of automobile sedan type, utilizing the same frame, the same links H! and the same spring and bracket member 23 with which the said automobile was originally equipped. It will be thus apparent that the load capacity of the suspension is increased by the invention, that the shock is not transmitted initially to the frame until all of the accommodation of the invention is exhausted. If the shock is more severe than the accommodation of the invention, then the frame will thereafter be elevated with the continued elevation of the spring. In effect, however, the invention stiffens the main spring from the top down as it were for increased load capacity and softens the spring from the bottom up for shock transmittal.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a vehicle, the combination with a leaf spring, a wheel support secured thereto and a frame, of a connection between one end of said spring and the frame, another connection between the frame and the other end of the spring, said last mentioned connection including an arm of longitudinally extensible type pivotally connected at one end to the end of the spring and extending longitudinally thereof and toward the support, a link means pivotally connected at one end to said arm intermediate its ends and connected at the opposite end to the frame, and cushion means carried by the frame and operatively associated with the other end of said longitudinally extensible arm, the arm and link connection being positioned between the support and arm connections to the spring.

2. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by the longitudinally extensible arm including a sinuous resilient portion.

3. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by said arm including a laterally offset portion intermediate its ends substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by said arm including a laterally offset portion intermediate its ends substantially as and for the purpose described, and a sinuous portion.

5. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by said second mentioned spring connection to the frame constituting the forward connection of said spring to the frame, and further characterized by the addition of a member secured to the arm and spring connection, and means carried by the frame with which the last mentioned member is slidably associated for tractively connecting the spring to the frame for pulling purposes.

6. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by said second mentioned spring connection to the frame constituting the forward connection of said spring to the frame, and further characterized by the addition of a member secured to the arm and spring connection, means carried by the frame with which the last mentioned member is slidably associated for tractively connecting the spring to the frame for pulling purposes, and the longitudinally extensible arm including a sinuous resilient portion.

'7. A device as defined by claim. 1 characterized by said second mentioned spring connection to the frame constituting the forward connection of said spring to the frame, and further characterized by the addition of a member secure-d to the arm and spring connection, means carried by the frame with which the last mentioned member is slidably associated for tractively connecting the spring to the frame for pulling purposes, and said arm including a laterally offset portion intermediate its ends substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized said second mentioned spring connection to the frame constituting the forward connection of said spring to the frame, and further characterized by the addition of a member secured to the a-i arm and spring connection, means carried by the frame with which the last mentioned member is slidably associated for tractively connecting the spring to the frame for pulling purposes, and said arm including a laterally offset portion intermediate its ends substantially as and for the purpose described, and a sinuous portion.

9. In a vehicle, the combination with a leaf spring and a frame, of a connection between the front end of the spring and the frame, a similar connection between the rear end of the spring and the frame, each of said connections including a longitudinally extensible arm pivotally associated at one end with the adjacent end of the spring,

a link means pivotally mounted upon the frame 1 and pivotally connected to said longitudinally extensible arm intermediate the ends thereof, a cushioning and absorbing construction carried by the frame and operatively associated with the other end of the longitudinally extensible arm,

and a pulling connection between the spring and the frame including a member connected to the front end of the spring and connected end of the arm, and mechanism upon said frame slidably supporting said last-mentioned member and non-detachably associated there with.

10. A device as defined by claim 9 characterized by the longitudinally extensible arm including a sinuous resilient portion.

11. A device as defined by claim 9 characterized by said arm including a laterally offset portion intermediate its ends substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. A device as defined by claim 9 characterized by said arm including a laterally offset portion intermediate its ends substantially as and for the purpose described, and a sinuous portion.

13. In a vehicle, the combination with a leaf spring, a wheel support secured thereto, and a frame, of a connection between one end of said spring and frame, another connection between the frame and the other end of said spring, one of said connections including an arm of longitudinally extensible type connected at one end to the spring end and extending longitudinally of the spring and toward the support, a link means pivotally connected at one end to said arm intermediate the end thereof and adjacent the arm and spring connection, and connected at the opposite end to the frame, means pi'vitally mounted upon the frame and connected to the other end of said arm, and yielding means associated with said last mentioned means, the arm and link connection being position between the support and arm connections to said spring.

14. In a vehicle, the combination with a leaf spring, a wheel support secured thereto, and a frame, of a connection between one end of said spring and frame, another connection between the frame and the other end of said spring, one of said connections including an arm of longitudinally extensible type connected at one end to the spring end and extending longitudinally of the spring and toward the support, a link means pivotally connected at one end to said arm intcrmediate the end thereof and adjacent the arm and spring connection, and connected at the opposite end to the frame, means pivotally mounted upon the frame and connected to the other end of said arm, and a coil spring assiciated with said last mentioned means, the arm and link connection being positioned between the support and arm connections to said spring.

15. A device as defined in claim 13, characterized by the longitudinally extensible arm including a sinuous resilient portion.

16. A device as defined by claim 14, characterized by the longitudinally extensible arm including a sinuous resilient portion.

17. A device as defined by claim 13, characterized by said arm including a laterally offset portion intermediate its ends substantially as and for the purpose described.

18. A device as defined by claim 14, characterized by said arm including a laterally offset tion intermediate its ends substantially as and it for the purpose described, and a sinuous portion.

-21. In a vehicle, the combination with a frame, a leaf spring and a support arrangement on the spring intermediate its ends, of a connection between one end of the spring and the frame, a similar connection between the other end of the spring and the frame, each of said similar connections including a longitudinal extensible arm pivotally associated at one end with the adjacent end of the spring, link means pivotally and operatively mounted upon the frame and pivotally connected to said longitudinally extensible arm intermediate the ends thereof and adjacent the arm and spring connection, and a cushioning and absorbing construction carried by the frame and operatively associated with the longitudinal extensible arm, the arm and link connection being positioned between the support arrangement and arm connection to the spring.

22. A device as defined by claim 21, characterized by the longitudinal extensible arm including a sinuous resilient portion.

23. A device as defined by claim 21, characterized by each similar connection including a lateral offset portion therein.

24. A device as defined by claim 21, characterized by the longitudinal extensible arm including a sinuous resilient portion and each connection including a laterally offset portion therein.

EDWARD R. WOLF. 

